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Rajasthan is the geographically largest state in
northwestern India. It borders Pakistan to the west,
Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the
southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast
and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of
342,239 km˛ (132,139 sq mi; in India also expressed as
3.42 lakh sq km).

The state capital is Jaipur. Geographical features
include the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan and the
termination of the Ghaggar River. One of the world's
oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the
only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, and its world
famous Dilwara Temples. Eastern Rajasthan has two
national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska, as
well as Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, famous
for its bird life.

Rajasthan was earlier called Rajputana (state of
Rajputs) after the ruling class of Rajputs. Rajput
which literally means 'son of rulers'. Rajput clans
rose to prominence in the 6th century, establishing
kingdoms in Rajasthan and across northern India. The
Rajputs resisted Muslim incursions into India,
although a number of Rajput states became tributaries
to the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire during those
empires' peak of expansion. As these empires weakened,
the Rajputs reasserted their independence. With the
decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century,
Rajputana came under attack from the Marathas and
Pindaris, and the Maratha general Sindhia captured
Ajmer. The Rajput kings concluded treaties with the
British in the early 19th century, accepting British
sovereignty in return for local autonomy and
protection from the Marathas. Ajmer became a province
of British India, while the autonomous Rajput states
and a few non-Rajput states (Tonk, Bharatpur, and
Dholpur) were organized into the Rajputana Agency.

The Rajputs' tradition of independence preserved
Rajasthan's culture and society, but many argue that it
also kept the state illiterate, backward and old
fashioned, leaving it less advanced in industrialisation,
education, female rights, and equality.

Rajasthan's independent kingdoms created a rich
architectural and cultural heritage, seen today in its
numerous forts, palaces and havelis, which are
complemented by exceptional examples of Muslim and Jain
architecture.